No sealant valve? and scrubbers question

[Mookie]

Hello,

I am designing my new 50L 3" bok still all made out of 304 SS.
I thought that for easy cleanup and filling the next batch I could use a valve that will be in the bottom of the container and another valve at the top of the container so I can fill up and clean up the still without disassembling the column
However, all my joints will be Triclamp connection with copper seal, I don't want to use teflon in the valve that in the bottom of the container that will boil there..
I remember once I saw mentioned in this forum valves that has no sealant inside of them (and I am not talking about needle valves, I know that they have no sealant but you can't take 25L out in a needle valve for cleaning, it will take too long)

Can anyone direct me to the right place please?

Regarding scrubbers, I will need copper ones, I know about Chore Boy scrubbers, however I will have to order them to my country, can anyone please estimate how much of them will I need to fill up a 3"X60" column?


Thank you everyone!

[Slow & Steady]

MileHi Distilling on the internet is a good source for braided copper for your scrubber needs. They sell it by the pound. Your 3" x60" column can fit 4 pounds easy, maybe even more. I'm not sure you would need more.

You might want to see about a gate valve for your boiler drain. Although I must admit ignorance to what materials are used on the inside of a gate valve.

S&S

[HookLine]

However, all my joints will be Triclamp connection with copper seal, I don't want to use teflon in the valve that in the bottom of the container that will boil there..
I remember once I saw mentioned in this forum valves that has no sealant inside of them (and I am not talking about needle valves, I know that they have no sealant but you can't take 25L out in a needle valve for cleaning, it will take too long)

Can anyone direct me to the right place please?

Virtually all valves have some kind of seal material in them. Your choice is what kind of seal material, and how much is exposed to the vapour/liquid. Seal materials include various rubbers and plastics, and fibres. Brass valves generally use rubber, Nylon, and fibre seals. Stainless valves use PTFE (Teflon). Ball and globe valves have the most amount of exposed seal material, and gate and needle valves have the least amount.

You can get stainless valves with no seal material, ie all stainless construction. But I recall they are only for fine flow control, and are quite small, doubt they will be suitable for a drain valve.

Ask Snuffy about them.

Realistically you have to use some seal material, so it might as well be the most inert we know of, which is PTFE.

Personally I avoid brass valves and use only stainless ones. A ball valve for the boiler drain, and a gate valve for the control valve on my VM column.

You might want to see about a gate valve for your boiler drain. Although I must admit ignorance to what materials are used on the inside of a gate valve.

A gate valve will do the job of a drain valve, but they are a lot more expensive than equivalent ball valves. (If you get a ball valve, then I highly recommend you get one with a locking safety tab on it. Accidentally bumping it open during a run could be a serious problem.)